The Team
Brett Oaten
Brett is the principal of the firm. Brett started the firm in 1992 and has, in the period since, represented many of Australia’s leading artists and creative businesses. Brett is a life member of radio station FBi, sits on several startup advisory boards, lets his staff come and go as they please and loves rugby league, punk rock, country, folk and surfing. Brett retired from client work in 2024.
Dave Orwell
Dave is a solicitor with the firm. Dave has previously worked at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, as Creative Manager for four years, and before that at Sydney law firm Allens Arthur Robinson. Dave is also a musician and songwriter and has played in Sydney bands Oliver, Knievel and Golden Rough.
Andrew Dawson
Andrew is a solicitor with the firm. Andrew has significant media and entertainment experience across all distribution platforms having worked both in private practice at leading Sydney law firms and in-house at a commercial broadcaster, a telco and a large independent production company. Since returning to private practice, Andrew has advised an Australian broadcaster, leading independent film and television producers, on-screen talent, writers, creative agencies, podcast producers and media industry service providers.
Andrew Cameron
Andrew is a solicitor with the firm. Andrew’s background is in entertainment and technology law. Prior to joining the firm in 2015 he spent four years in the IP, Communications and Technology group at Allens Linklaters and then six years as Director, Legal & Business Affairs at Sony Music Entertainment Australia. His entertainment practice is now focused predominantly on music and television. He also acts for technology startups across a number of industries. He has played music since he was five and is also a WIRES member and avid nature photographer.
Tahlia Beeson
Tahlia is a solicitor with the firm. Tahlia is an experienced music lawyer with a deep and varied background in the music industry. Drawing from her experiences, including in artist management, Tahlia offers a skill set that enriches her practice of law. Tahlia is particularly passionate about working with emerging artists and industry professionals and is dedicated to helping her clients navigate the complex legal landscape with the music and broader entertainment industries.
Stephen Gorry
Steve is a solicitor with the firm. He was admitted in 1987 and has been a partner of Henry Davis York and Norton Rose Fulbright. Having escaped big law he splits his time between us and his role as Legal Counsel for Venues NSW. His area of expertise is dispute resolution, which he says is mainly ensuring clients don’t get into fights rather than starting them. He is an enthusiastic supporter of alternative dispute resolution so ADR, mediation and arbitration (basically, not going to Court) is his primary aim.
Fiona Smith
Fiona is a solicitor with the firm. She has worked with some of the biggest brands in music and media, locally and abroad, including EMI, BMG, Sony, Viacom, VH1, MTV, Austereo and Endeavour IMG. Fiona brings extensive experience across media, entertainment and broadcast production and has a unique skill set having worked on both sides of the fence. She started her career as an audio engineer, mixing live bands. One of her prized possessions is a black Kramer semi-acoustic bass she used to play in local bands. She can still sing a mean harmony. A passionate animal lover, Fiona donates to the World Animal Protection organisation and has adopted a koala called Bruce
Lachlan McLean
Lachlan (Lachie) is a solicitor with the firm. Having practised property and commercial law in various Brisbane-based firms, he migrated to Sydney to practice technology, media and telecoms law at Webb Henderson. He has now found a home in music and entertainment law. Lachie has been a musician from a young age, playing in original and cover bands and producing his own music.
Georgia Renard
Georgia is a solicitor with the firm. Georgia previously worked as an intellectual property lawyer with a Sydney-based firm, where she gained experience developing, enforcing and commercialising intellectual property rights for clients in various industries. She now applies this experience to help clients in the music and entertainment industries do the same.
Kristin Marlow
Kristin is our office manager. Coming from the world of media where she spent much of her career programming TV channels and building digital networks, while also raising two strapping lads. Recently, she took time out to indulge her passions - cinema, collecting fountain pens, writing that never-to-be-published novel and becoming an award-winning playwright. But it’s her love of a good spreadsheet that brings her to our office to assist with all of your queries.